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Sunday, March 22, 2009

Game 2: Justin Moriarty

Game 2 ended in an 8-6 loss for the Cardinals today vs. Emory. We played a good ball game for the most part but it just came down to lack of execution at the end that contributed to our loss. It's very easy for frustration to start building up after a 1-5 start to the season but the guys need to be mentally tough for the remainder of this trip and head into conference on a bit of a roll. Micah Yarbrough pitched an excellent game for us and had Emory hitters off balance for most of the day. Scott Randecker came in relief for Micah and pitched well. It helps that the bullpen can come in and continue the good work of a starter.

The defense was certainly present in game 2 as well. Joe Heller made 2 spectacular plays at second base. Nick Robinson also made a great play bare-handing a fast rolling bunt to throw the runner out at first. Robby (as he is called by his teammates) also had a successful day at the plate. Steve Hlavac added a diving catch in left field to minimize the damage of an Emory rally.

I really enjoy reading books written by big time coaches like John Wooden and Phil Jackson. I recently came across a familiar passage in Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel's, The Winners Manual. In high school when I was struggling as a Sophomore on the Varsity my Mom gave me this saying on a wallet sized card and I have kept it ever since.

A Winner's Creed

If you think you are beaten, you are;If you think you dare not, you don't;If you'd like to win, but think you can't,It's almost a cinch you won't

If you think you'll lose, you're lost;For out in the world we findSuccess begins with a person's will,It's all in the state of mind.

Life's battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster hand;

But sooner or later the person who wins

Is the one who thinks "I can."

This applies not only in the field of athletics, but also in the game of life. It doesn't matter what endeavor you are in, this saying can have an inpact on what you do. I want our guys or any recruit thinking about playing baseball for North Central to read this and seriously analyze what A Winner's Creed is saying. I'm confident we as a team will get this ship moving in the right direction before the conference season starts next week but it needs to be all of us working together and believing in what we are doing.

I'll be writing again after our game tomorrow. It should be up by about 11pm Central time. Until then.....